Drug Offenses

Have you been charged with possession of marijuana, cocaine or another illegal drug in Indiana? Facing charges involving allegation of drug trafficking or possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance? Take your charges seriously. Contact our law firm immediately. We can help.

At Hocker & Associates, LLC, we can work with you if you have been charged with serious drug offense. An Indianapolis drug offense lawyer will protect your rights. Criminal defense lawyer Brett Osborne can put his experience to work for you. We take criminal defense cases involving drug offenses seriously because we understand how convictions can turn your life upside-down.

When you have our experienced Indiana drug charge attorney working with you on your case, we can help you understand all the legal options available to you, then work with you to decide the best course of action.

What types of drug offenses does Hocker & Associates handle?

Indiana has strict laws involving controlled substances. Like many other states, Indiana classifies various drugs on a 5-level scale: Schedule I, II, III, IV and V. Each schedule is determined by factors such as the drug's potential for abuse and whether the drug has been approved for a legitimate medical use.

Schedule I drugs, which are considered the most addictive and have not been approved for medical use, include heroin and other opiates.

Schedule II drugs include morphine, cocaine, opium and methamphetamine have been approved for certain medical uses but are considered highly addictive.

Schedule III drugs include steroids and testosterone. These drugs have been approved for medical use and considered less addictive than Schedule II drugs but more addictive than Schedule IV drugs.

Schedule IV drugs include diazepam, valium and various tranquilizers.

Schedule V drugs include Tylenol and Codeine.

Charges related to the various drugs are often based on three main factors:

Type of drug

Amount of drug

Possession versus sale

What are the penalties for common drug offenses in Indiana?

The penalties vary widely from one drug to the next. Most drug charges in Indiana are classified as felonies. Certain marijuana charges, however, are classified as misdemeanors in Indiana.

Convictions related to drugs classified as Schedule I and Schedule II generally carry the most severe penalties. The penalties also become more severe based on the amount of the drug and whether the defendant possessed the drug for personal use or sold (or attempted to sell) the drug. In addition, penalties are often more severe if the defendant was previously convicted of a similar drug charge or the arrest occurred within 1,000 feet of a school, public park or community center.

Penalties for the first conviction for some of the most common drug charges in Indiana include:

Class B misdemeanor - No more than 180 days in jail. No more than $1,000 fine.

Public intoxication

Possession of marijuana (less than 30 grams) 1st offense

Class A misdemeanor - No more than 1 year in prison. No more than $5,000 fine.

Possession of marijuana (less than 30 grams) 2nd offense

Level 6 felony - 6 months to 2½ years prison. No more than $10,000 fine.

Possession of marijuana (more than 30 grams) - Level 6 felony

Possession of cocaine (less than 5 grams) - Level 6 felony

Possession of methamphetamine (less than 5 grams) - Level 6 felony

Level 5 felony - 1 to 6 years in prison. No more than $10,000 fine.

Possession of cocaine (5-10 grams)

Possession of methamphetamine (5-10 grams)

Level 4 felony - 2 to 12 years in prison. No more than $10,000 fine.

Possession of cocaine (10 to 28 grams)

Possession of methamphetamine (10-28 grams)

Level 3 felony - 3 to 16 years in prison. No more than $10,000 fine.

Possession of cocaine (28 grams or more)

Possession of methamphetamine (28 grams or more)

How can Hocker & Associates, LLC, help me if I've been charged with a drug offense?

If you hire our law firm, we will thoroughly investigate your arrest and make sure your case receives the attention it rightfully deserves. We will analyze your arrest report and make sure arresting police officer followed all the appropriate procedures. We will investigate whether the evidence was stored properly or tampered with.

Many legal options exist for people charged with drug crimes in Indiana. In certain circumstances, you might be eligible to enroll in a drug treatment or substance abuse program as an alternative to going to jail.